Reading mail

[Maiko]

My partners bank delivered a loan statement to his ex wife house (His old address but they have his new address since the split), she has opened it and is now threatening to take it to the solicitors to try get more money out of him - Is she allowed to do this?

[Schutzengel]

It is an offence to open someone elses mail, (this includes ex-wives). If a person receives mail which is not addressed to them, then the item must be returned. Either to the Post Office, or to the sender if there is an address on the back, marked 'Not at This Address' in both instances. Your partner should report this to the bank concerned, with a suitably worded complaint in view of the fact that the bank does have his new address. A letter from your partner's solicitor to the ex-wife regarding any mail received at her address, which she is not entitled to open, might also be of help.

[wigglebum]

It's one thing to open up mail for an address to send back to, it's completely different to open it up to examine the contents, get onto the bank straightaway. I also agree with Schutzengel getting a solicitor to send her a letter regarding any further correspondance for your partner.

[Schutzengel]

HenryVIII. The bank concerned no doubt was pleased that you informed them, but in fact it should'nt have been necessary to open the envelope to do that. As far as I am aware all bank statements and letters are marked Private on the front above the address, and with a return address on the back. Many of our police are very good indeed, but they don't always know the answer to everything.

[Schutzengel]

Hi Henry, With the details you have given there wasn't really anything else you could have tried. It must have been so frustrating. What a stupid person that was, to not have made proper arrangements for change of address. As you mention final reminders, the person must have been in the red and totally ignoring it. I imagine the bank must have been very pleased to receive the information in order to chase up the person.

[Panic Button]

Does it make any difference whether she is 'allowed' to do it?

She's done it.

I can't see the police arresting her for it.

[121shirley]

i alway thought it was against the law to open mail not addressed to others phone the post office and the police u might be able to have her done for it

[Schutzengel]

The point isn't so much the fact that the ex-wife has already opened the ex-husbands private financial mail. But the fact that she has used the knowledge of what she felt she had discovered, and was not entitled to know, in an attempt to gain a pecuniary advantage.